Lacrosse head

ABSTRACT

A lacrosse head having inwardly beveled top sidewall rails that extend along the length of the sidewalls, toward the center of the pocket. In this manner, when a player attempts to receive a thrown ball and fails to catch the ball in the pocket of the head cleanly without obstruction from the head frame, the top sidewall rails rebound the ball back inside the lacrosse head frame, thereby aiding in control of the ball. The present invention further includes a transverse wall at the distal end of the head with an inside surface having a scallop, groove or channel extending along substantially the length of the wall in which the edge of the mesh pocket is received and secured. The sidewalls of the head of the present invention are further provided with indicia associated with some or all of the stringing holes to assist in the stringing process.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)

The present application derives priority from U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 61/731,866 filed 30 Nov. 2012.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to lacrosse and, more particularly, to an improved head for a lacrosse stick adapted for improved playing characteristics.

2. Description of the Background

In 1970, the introduction of double-wall, synthetic lacrosse heads revolutionized the game of lacrosse. In comparison to the traditional wooden single-wall heads, the synthetic heads imparted a lightness, maneuverability, and flexibility never-before experienced by lacrosse players. These performance advantages greatly enhanced players' skills such as throwing, catching, cradling, and scooping, and brought the sport of lacrosse to new levels of speed and excitement.

FIG. 1 illustrates a conventional lacrosse stick 100 having a handle 102 shown in dotted lines, and a double-wall synthetic head 104. Head 104 comprises a generally V-shaped frame having a juncture 106, sidewalls 108 and 110, a transverse wall (or “scoop”) 112 joining the sidewalls at their ends opposite juncture 106, and a stop member 114 joining sidewalls 108 and 110 at their ends nearest juncture 106. As shown, handle 102 fits into and through juncture 106, and abuts stop member 114. A screw or other fastener placed through opening 107 secures handle 102 to head 104.

For traditionally-strung pockets (which have thongs and string instead of mesh), thongs (not shown) made of leather or synthetic material extend from upper thong holes 116 in transverse wall 112 to lower thong holes 118 in stop member 114. In some designs, such as the design shown in FIG. 1, upper thong holes 116 are located on tabs 117 of the scoop 112. On other designs, upper thong holes 116 are located directly on the scoop 112. FIG. 1 shows four pairs (116, 118) of thong holes that accept four thongs. To complete the pocket web, the thongs have nylon strings threaded around the thongs and string laced through string holes 120 in sidewalls 108 and 110, forming any number of diamonds (cross lacing). Finally, one or more throwing or shooting strings extend transversely between the upper portions of sidewalls 108 and 110, optionally attaching to throwing string holes 124 and a string laced through string holes 122. The typical features of a lacrosse stick are shown generally in Tucker et al., U.S. Pat. No. 3,507,495, Crawford et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,034,984, and Tucker et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,566,947, which are all incorporated by reference herein.

Where a mesh pocket is used in place of the traditional throngs and string laced pocket, a pre-cut and formed mesh panel 130 as seen in FIG. 2 is affixed within the head by lacing through the string holes 120. The mesh panel is typically constructed in a diamond pattern that mimics the look of the traditional lacing and is further provided with piping or an edge band 131 where the diamond pattern is interrupted at the edge of the panel. A head 104 designed for use with a mesh pocket may be provided with additional stringing holes 120 across the scoop for the top string or the thong holes 116 (FIG. 1) may be repurposed for the top string if they are formed directly in the scoop 120. Controlling the contact between mesh panel and the scoop area of head 104 so as to maintain consistent tension in the pocket of the stick and so that the mesh panel does not interfere with either throwing or scooping a lacrosse ball is a crucial consideration in proper stringing of a lacrosse stick head.

Referring again to FIG. 1, sidewalls 108 and 110 have an inside face, an outside face, a bottom rail edge from which the pocket is traditionally strung, and a top rail edge opposite the bottom rail edge. Similarly, stop member 114 has an inside face, a bottom edge from which the pocket is strung, and a top edge opposite the bottom edge. In one conventional design, the inside face of a conventional sidewall or stop member is substantially perpendicular to the plane of the front face of head 104. This geometry allows a ball to freely roll along a sidewall or stop member without obstruction, from the back of the pocket to the front face of head 104. The top edge of a conventional sidewall, however, is angled away from the pocket, such that the outer edge of the top edge is closer to the bottom rail than is the inner edge of the top rail. Therefore, when a lacrosse ball contacts too much of the top edge (i.e., it does not cleanly enter the pocket), the ball is repelled away from the pocket. Players would prefer, however, a means to limit the deflection of the ball off of the top rail edge, to better retain the ball within pocket and maximize ball control.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a lacrosse stick head having a sidewall geometry optimized to promote deflection of thrown or loose balls into the pocket.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a head with a transverse member optimized to secure the edge of a mesh panel to the inside surface of the member in order to control tension of the mesh and to limit any resistance to or interference with a ball being scooped into or thrown out of the pocket over the transverse member.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a lacrosse stick head that is formed with integral indicators in aid of the pocket stringing process in order to enable quick and accurate stringing by even inexperienced players.

The present invention is a lacrosse head having inwardly beveled top sidewall rails that extend along the length of the sidewalls. In an embodiment of the present invention, the widest surface of the top rail in view when the lacrosse head is positioned in the plane of the front face (or the plane of the handle, which are typically the same or parallel or near parallel planes), its general position when receiving a thrown lacrosse ball, is beveled in an inward direction toward the center of the pocket. In this manner, when a player attempts to receive a thrown ball and fails to catch the ball in the pocket of the head cleanly without obstruction from the head frame, the beveled top rim tends to rebound the ball back inside the lacrosse head frame. In contrast to a conventional sidewall top rail, constructed either with a flat top rail edge (substantially perpendicular to the sidewalls), a neutrally beveled top rail edge (similar to a basketball hoop) or an outwardly beveled top rail edge (FIG. 2), the inwardly beveled top rail edge provides a rebound into the pocket. Thus, the inward beveled edge aids in control of the ball, by directing the movement of the ball toward the pocket. The present invention further includes a transverse wall at the distal end of the head with an inside surface having a scallop, groove or channel extending along substantially the length of the wall in which the edge of the mesh pocket is received and secured. The sidewalls of the head of the present invention are further provided with indicia associated with some or all of the stringing holes to assist in the stringing process.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments and certain modifications thereof when taken together with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a prior art lacrosse head.

FIG. 2 is a mesh panel for stringing within a lacrosse stick head.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a lacrosse stick head according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 illustrates a cross-section taken along the line A-A of FIG. 3

FIG. 5 is a partial cutaway perspective of the transverse wall of a lacrosse stick head according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a partial side view of a cross-section of the transverse wall of a lacrosse stick head according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a side view of a lacrosse head with string hole indicia according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

As described above with reference to FIG. 1, a conventional lacrosse stick head, whether strung in the traditional manner or with a pre-formed mesh pocket, is affixed at one end to a handle 102 and comprises a generally V- or U-shaped frame engaged to the stick at a juncture 106. A stop member 114 is provided adjacent to the juncture 106 and a pair of sidewalls 108 and 110 extend from the stop member 114 and juncture 106 in a generally divergent arrangement ending at a transverse wall 112 joining the sidewalls at their ends opposite juncture 106. The divergent sidewall arrangement provides a wider or enlarged distal portion of the head intended to catch or scoop up a ball and funnel it into a pocket at the narrow end between the sidewalls 108, 110 and at the stop member 114. The side walls may be articulated to enhance the funneling action urging the ball into the pocket

In order to facilitate scooping up a ball resting or rolling on the playing surface, the transverse wall 112 is typically flattened out to be more within the plane of the handle 102 (or a parallel plane or at a low angle to the plane of the handle 102) such that when the head is lowered to the playing surface the transverse wall 112 is flat or nearly flat against the playing surface and offers little resistance to the ball entering the head and being funneled to the pocket. Transverse wall 12 is commonly referred to as the scoop portion of the head, in acknowledgement of its function in scooping up ground balls. The sidewalls 106, 108 are of reduced height where they meet the transverse wall 112 but are each otherwise generally formed to have an overall cross section extending in a direction generally perpendicular to the plane of the handle 102, as is the stop member 114. That is, the major overall dimension of the sidewalls 108, 110 is its height extending in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the handle or generally in the up-down direction if the handle were held in a horizontal orientation. In this orientation, the sidewalls 108, 110, and stop member 114 all have an inside face (IF), an outside face (OF), a bottom rail edge (BRE) from which the pocket is strung, and a top rail edge (TRE) opposite the bottom rail edge. In the conventional head shown, the IF, OF, BRE and TRE are defined by substantially flat orthogonal surfaces, though interrupted by holes 120 or apertures for lightness (see FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 inset).

The present invention is a double walled synthetic molded lacrosse stick head specifically designed and configured to improve performance in catching, throwing and scooping lacrosse balls during game play. As seen in FIG. 3, the sidewalls 208, 210, stop member 214 and scoop 212 all have a top rail edge (TRE) that is beveled or contoured inward toward the pocket to promote inward deflection of balls into the pocket. More specifically, the sidewalls 208, 210, stop member 214 and scoop 212 of the present invention are formed with an outside face 242 of greater height than the inside face 241 at any given section along the sidewalls 208, 210, stop member 214 and scoop 212. By increasing the outside face 242 height over that of the inside face 241 the top rail edge 244 is by definition sloped inward toward the pocket of the head. In one preferred embodiment, top rail edge surface is curved. In another preferred embodiment, top rail edge surface is flat or nearly flat. During game play, a ball striking the top rail edge 244 is more likely to be deflected into the pocket as compared to a conventional rectilinear or outwardly contoured sidewall construction as described above, and thus the ball is more likely to be caught by the player utilizing a head designed according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 illustrates a cross-section taken along the line A-A of FIG. 3, in which in one embodiment the outside face 242 height exceeds that of the inside face 241 by approximately 25 percent, resulting in a top rail edge 244 that slopes inward toward the pocket of the head by an angle N (relative to vertical line inside the sidewall as shown) within a range of from 0-90 degrees, and more preferably 20-70 degrees, and most preferably approximately 60 degrees. As described above, it is desirable for a head to have a transverse wall 112 that is flattened, generally within the plane of the handle 102 to provide as little resistance as possible to a ball entering the head during a “scooping” action. With reference to FIG. 5, where a pre-cut and formed mesh panel 130 is used to string a lacrosse stick, a series of string holes 120 is provided in the transverse wall to secure the panel 130. During stringing, the topmost row of mesh diamonds is typically folded back and the folded edge of the mesh is secured along the inside of the transverse wall by a string tied through the string holes 120 and through the mesh itself. Conventionally, the mesh is secured to the inside face of the transverse wall 112 with only the securing string strung through the string holes 116. However, because of the mesh panel's proximity to the transverse wall 112 or scoop, it can become bulky near the scoop's inner edge and interfere with the path of a moving lacrosse ball that is either entering the head from scooping or departing the head during throwing. In addition, the mesh panel undergoes excessive wear and tear when players drive the back side of the head along the playing surface (which may be either natural or synthetic) to perform the scooping action that is fundamental to the game. Consequently, the mesh panel ends that are exposed in conventional heads tend to wear out or become frayed and the entire mesh panel must be replaced. The head of the present invention is provided with a transverse wall 112 having a scallop or linear indentation or groove 160 formed along the inside face of the wall in which the folded edge of the mesh panel is received and secured by the securing string in order to inhibit migration, remove material (mesh and string) that can impede or obstruct a moving ball and protect the mesh ends and securing string from wear. The cross section of the scallop or groove may be continuously curved in a fixed or variable radius or may be angular; having a “v” shaped cross section as depicted in the FIG. 4.

With reference to FIG. 5, as described above, the side walls 108, 110 of the head 104 are provided with a series of string holes 120 through which a securing string is threaded and knotted to secure a mesh panel 130 or through which strings are threaded and woven to form a traditionally strung pocket. There is some variability in the manner in which the securing top and side strings are threaded through the string holes 120 allowing a player to customize the feel and playing characteristics of the pocket in his or her stick. There is further variation in the way that shooting strings may be woven and configured in and around the pocket and the process of stringing or re-stringing a stick can be confusing for a novice or an experienced stringer. Adding to the confusion is the ever-changing array of head models introduced by manufacturers with differently placed and greater numbers of string holes that stringers must navigate in search of a particular stringing style or pocket feel related to stringing style. The head of the present invention is formed with a series of indicators 170 at some or each of the string holes to differentiate the holes from each other, associate similarly situated holes on the opposing side walls 108, 110 and facilitate stringing of the head quickly and accurately. The indicators may be provided in the form of colored indications on the inside face 141 or outside face 142 of the sidewalls but are preferably provided as raised or recessed areas in the surface of the sidewalls adjacent to the holes. The shape of the raised or recessed area may be altered to indicate the likely use of the hole (i.e., as a side string hole, shooting string hole, throng hole, unused hole, etc.) or to indicate a like position as between the two sidewalls. In addition, the indicators can direct a stringer to use string holes in a particular model lacrosse head that will result in pocket configurations that are customized to a player's position. For example, an attackman who prefers the ball to rest in his pocket closer to the scoop for quick releases can be directed by indicators where to string a head to achieve that result. Similarly, a defenseman that prefers the ball to rest in his pocket closer to the stop for control can be similarly directed.

Having now fully set forth the preferred embodiment and certain modifications of the concept underlying the present invention, various other embodiments as well as certain variations and modifications of the embodiments herein shown and described will obviously occur to those skilled in the art upon becoming familiar with said underlying concept. It is to be understood, therefore, that the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically set forth in the appended claims. 

What is claimed:
 1. A head for a lacrosse stick comprising a generally V-shaped frame having two side walls joined at a juncture and diverging therefrom and a transverse wall joining the ends of said side walls opposite of said juncture to define an internal area, said frame adapted to receive a web within said internal area, said two side walls each comprising an inside surface adjacent to said internal area and an opposing outside surface, said inside surface and said outside joined by an upper surface and a lower surface, said upper surface sloping downward from said outside surface toward said inside surface.
 2. A head for a lacrosse stick comprising a generally V-shaped frame having two side walls joined at a juncture and diverging therefrom and a transverse wall joining the ends of said side walls opposite of said juncture to define an internal area, said frame adapted to receive a web within said internal area, said transverse wall having an inside surface adjacent to said internal area and a channel formed along said inside surface in which an edge of said web is received.
 3. A head for a lacrosse stick comprising a generally V-shaped frame having two side walls joined at a juncture and diverging therefrom and a transverse wall joining the ends of said side walls opposite of said juncture to define an internal area, said frame adapted to receive a web within said internal area, said two side walls having a plurality of pairs of through holes provided there through to facilitate receipt of said web, one of each of said pairs of through holes being formed in each of said side walls, said side walls further comprising a plurality of indicia identifying at least one web configuration. 